Cold conditions have intensified across Kashmir, with the valley preparing for fresh spells of snowfall as two back-to-back western disturbances are expected to affect the region from Wednesday, officials said.
According to the Meteorological Department, a feeble western disturbance will influence Jammu and Kashmir from 1-2 January, bringing light snowfall to scattered areas from Wednesday evening through to Thursday morning.
A moderate western disturbance will follow from 3-6 January, expected to bring light to moderate snow to most areas of the state, with peak activity from 4-6 January.
The MeT Office has also warned of possible heavy snowfall at higher altitudes during the second spell.
Meanwhile, the night temperatures have continued to drop in most parts of Kashmir as cold conditions take hold of the valley. Gulmarg, a popular tourist resort in north Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 8.8°C, an improvement from the previous night’s minus 11.5°C. Gulmarg was the coldest place in the valley.
Pahalgam, located in south Kashmir and a base camp for the Amarnath Yatra, recorded a low of minus 7.6°C, slightly higher than the previous night’s minus 8.4°C.
In Srinagar, the mercury dipped to minus 4.4°C on Tuesday night, down from minus 3.5°C the previous night, while Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, recorded minus 6°C. Konibal in Pampore logged a low of minus 7.5°C.
Kupwara, in the northern part of Kashmir, registered minus 0.3°C, while Kokernag in the south recorded minus 5.8°C.
Kashmir is currently in the midst of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the harshest period of winter, which began on 21 December.
During these 40 days, the chances of snowfall are highest, and temperatures drop significantly. Chillai-Kalan ends on 30 January, but the cold wave continues after that, transitioning into the 20-day ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and the 10-day ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) periods.
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